I think I need to go there. I've never been to the South, but I'm tempted to go just for the food.

I've been in Atlanta almost 10 years & I've yet to have either boiled peanuts or shrimp & grits (or any grits for that matter). But I'm from Kansas City & Atlanta doesn't have REAL BBQ... I don't know what they do to the poor sauce...

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“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” ~ Groucho Marx

I'm from Southern Oregon, and we don't have any really distinctive local dishes. However, if you visit the area, you will not leave without eating something with pears in it. Pretty much guaranteed.

I currently live in Quebec, and although I cannot lay any claim to being "from" here, I feel I must mention the most famous local dish: poutine, which is french fries covered in gravy and topped with cheese curds. People tend to have strong feelings about where to get the best poutine in town. Personally I feel that the best time to eat poutine is in the dead of winter, after having been outside skating, skiing or snowshoeing, when you are beginning to worry about frostbite and are so hungry you may collapse. However, I've also been reliably informed that poutine tastes best when eaten while drunk at 3 AM. You may wish to conduct your own studies on this matter.

There are lots of different variations on the traditional poutine, some of which are good, some of which sound...scary. Today I saw a sign in a restaurant window advertising poutine curry. Now, I'm all for the melting pot, but it seems to me that some cuisines were never meant to be fused .

I've never had curry poutine, but I've had curry gravy on potatoes before - it is sooo yummy!

Not sure about foods local to this specific area, but if we are talking southern Ontario in general - farmer's sausage. Totally different from the stuff you get in the store.

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You are only young once. After that you have to think up some other excuse.

I love Eastern NC bbq. We have had several heated arguments over it because my husband is from Memphis. He got stationed on Camp Lejeune. His main argument is a claim that Eastern NC bbq 'isn't bbq.' Probably a good thing we live in Memphis now and not Jacksonville....

I'm with your DH, I grew up 8 miles from the main gate of Lejeune, and I cannot stand Eastern BBQ (please don't tell my family), I am all about the Lexington NC Style. My favorite BBQ place locally has both Eastern and Lexington style, so my family can get both.

If you plan on ordering some, I'll give you my address so you can send me a box as a tip.

Definitely go with the kettle cooked, they're way better than the ruffled.

Martin's Kettle-Cooked Chips are the be-all, end-all of potato chips. (Don't tell my cousin, who works for Herr's, that I said that!)

And to whoever mentioned Tastycakes: Peanut butter kandy cakes are the best things that have ever been invented.

Oh that reminds me for 'local' food in Ireland, the original cheese and onion and salt and vinegar flavoured crisps, Tayto. (Even though I prefer Smiths myself even though you can't get them over here. )

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“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”- Douglas Adams

Oh that reminds me for 'local' food in Ireland, the original cheese and onion and salt and vinegar flavoured crisps, Tayto. (Even though I prefer Smiths myself even though you can't get them over here. )

I'm sorry but Tayto aren't nearly as nice as King. Especially on a sandwich. I remember reading years ago that the Irish are the biggest crisp consumers in the world and I well believe it. I think we have the best variety here too.

Oh that reminds me for 'local' food in Ireland, the original cheese and onion and salt and vinegar flavoured crisps, Tayto. (Even though I prefer Smiths myself even though you can't get them over here. )

I'm sorry but Tayto aren't nearly as nice as King. Especially on a sandwich. I remember reading years ago that the Irish are the biggest crisp consumers in the world and I well believe it. I think we have the best variety here too.

I use to be a kings fan myself but a few years ago I treated myself to a crisp sandwich and it wasn't great. They were all greasy and burnt looking. I mentioned Tayto because they were the inventers of cheese & onion and salt & vinegar crisps. Before that all crisps were just salted.

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“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”- Douglas Adams

Now, you must have the taylor ham with egg and cheese on nothing less than a Kaiser roll. Some people call it Taylor Pork Roll, but those are the folks from South Jersey and Pork Roll tastes slightly different.

I miss it because it is something that is only served in NJ and I cannot buy it (that and TastyKakes) unless I visit a website in South Jersey called njporkroll.com.

Now, you must have the taylor ham with egg and cheese on nothing less than a Kaiser roll. Some people call it Taylor Pork Roll, but those are the folks from South Jersey and Pork Roll tastes slightly different.

I miss it because it is something that is only served in NJ and I cannot buy it (that and TastyKakes) unless I visit a website in South Jersey called njporkroll.com

And please note the sandwich pictured is on a hoagie roll, and not the proper flaky, crispy, Kaiser roll that has the soft doughy inside that the salty hammy goodness of the Taylor Ham requires.

I miss NJ.

My NJ-native husband introduced me to Taylor Ham years ago! You can finally buy it here (in the South) at Publix. My husband is very good at making Taylor Ham sammiches, although the diner he frequented in NJ used . . . English muffins.

I've been in Atlanta almost 10 years & I've yet to have either boiled peanuts or shrimp & grits (or any grits for that matter). But I'm from Kansas City & Atlanta doesn't have REAL BBQ... I don't know what they do to the poor sauce...

Re: Boiled peanuts. I'm in another Southern city (and have always lived here), and I had actually never heard of boiled peanuts until I started noticing roadside stands a few years ago. (Maybe they were always there--I might not be too observant). People told us they were great. So my husband and I bought some once, and--we Did.Not.Like.Them. They reminded me of mushy slugs. So while I don't doubt people love 'em--I've heard tons of testimonials to that fact--you're not necessarily missing anything, Bibliophile.

Now, you must have the taylor ham with egg and cheese on nothing less than a Kaiser roll. Some people call it Taylor Pork Roll, but those are the folks from South Jersey and Pork Roll tastes slightly different.

I miss it because it is something that is only served in NJ and I cannot buy it (that and TastyKakes) unless I visit a website in South Jersey called njporkroll.com

And please note the sandwich pictured is on a hoagie roll, and not the proper flaky, crispy, Kaiser roll that has the soft doughy inside that the salty hammy goodness of the Taylor Ham requires.

I miss NJ.

My NJ-native husband introduced me to Taylor Ham years ago! You can finally buy it here (in the South) at Publix. My husband is very good at making Taylor Ham sammiches, although the diner he frequented in NJ used . . . English muffins.

English muffins.... thud..... that was the sound of me fainting in disbelief that an NJ diner would despoil the Taylor Ham that way. Madness!

Local home cooking in southcentral Kentucky is yummy and calorie-laden. ==>For breakfast, Chocolate gravy over a split homemade biscuit OR sausage, biscuit, and gravy with a couple slices of fresh tomatoes. ==>For lunch, fried bologna sandwich ( I add a slice of cheese) ==>For supper, fresh homemade cornbread, freshly cooked pinto beans (after it's been soaked in water to re-hydrate), with finely chopped fresh onion and some pickle relish.

I miss being able to eaily buy Lebanon Bologna, Taylor ham, and scrapple like I was able to do when we lived in New Jersey. I especially miss the Lebanon Bologna. I ask for it in the deli at the different stores I've tried out here in s.c.KY, and all I get is a blank stare and then a polite "No, we don't carry it."

Local home cooking in southcentral Kentucky is yummy and calorie-laden. ==>For breakfast, Chocolate gravy over a split homemade biscuit OR sausage, biscuit, and gravy with a couple slices of fresh tomatoes. ==>For lunch, fried bologna sandwich ( I add a slice of cheese) ==>For supper, fresh homemade cornbread, freshly cooked pinto beans (after it's been soaked in water to re-hydrate), with finely chopped fresh onion and some pickle relish.

I miss being able to eaily buy Lebanon Bologna, Taylor ham, and scrapple like I was able to do when we lived in New Jersey. I especially miss the Lebanon Bologna. I ask for it in the deli at the different stores I've tried out here in s.c.KY, and all I get is a blank stare and then a polite "No, we don't carry it."